Jones, Charles

Jones, Charles, Canadian-born American composer and teacher; b. Tamworth, June 21, 1910. He settled in the U.S. in 1928, where he studied violin at the Inst. of Musical Art (diploma, 1932) and composition with Wagenaar at the Juilliard School of Music (diploma, 1939) in N.Y. He taught at Mills Coll. in Oakland, Calif. (1939–44), then at the Juilliard School of Music (1954-60; 1973), and at the Mannes Coll. of Music (from 1972); also taught at the Aspen (Colo.) School of Music. After composing in a neo-Classical style, he developed a complex mode of expression notable for its chromaticism.

Works

dramatic:Ballet: Down with Drink for Women’s Voices, Piano, and Percussion (1943). ORCH.: Suite for Strings (1937); 4 syms.: No. 1 (1939), No. 2 (1957), No. 3 (1962), and No. 4 (1965); Little Symphony for the New Year (1953); Galop (1940); Pastorale for Chamber Orch. (1940); Cowboy Song for Oboe and Strings (1941); Overture (1942); 5 Melodies (1945); Cassation (1948); Introduction and Rondo for Strings (1957); Suite after a Notebook of 1762 for Chamber Orch. (1957); Concerto for 4 Violins and Orch. (1963); Allegory (1970). CHAMBER: 10 string quartets (1936–94); Sonatina for Solo Violin (1938); Violin Sonatina (1942); Suite for Violin and Piano (1945); Duo for Violin and Piano (1947); Threnody for Viola (1947); Lyric Waltz Suite for Wind Quartet (1948); Sonata a tre for Piano Trio (1952); Duo for Violin and Viola (1956); Violin Sonata (1958); Sonata piccola for Piccolo and Harpsichord (1961); Sonata for Oboe and Harpsichord (1965); Music for 2 Violinists (1966); String Trio (1968); In Nomine for Violin and Piano (1972); Serenade for Flute, Violin, Cello, and Harpsichord (1973); Triptychon I for Violin, Viola, and Piano (1975) and II for Violin and Piano (1981); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1982); Meditation for Bass Clarinet and Piano (1982); Capriccio for Cello and Piano (1983); Ballade for Violin and Piano (1986); Serena for 9 Instruments (1986). keyboard:Piano: 2 sonatas (1946, 1950); Sonata for 2 Pianos (1947); Toccata (1955); Psalm (1976); Book of the Hours(1979-81); Sonata for Piano, 4-Hands (1983). Harpsichord: Keyboard Book (1953); Suite (1993). Organ: Noël (1983); Emblemata (1994). VOCAL: The Seasons, cantata (1959); I Am a Mynstrel for Tenor, Violin, Harpsichord, Piano, and Percussion (1967); Masque for Speaker and 12 Players, after Pope’s Rape of the Lock (1968); 4 scenes for Voice and Piano, after Pope (1982); Poemata for Voice, Violin, and Cello (1987); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire